Kelsey Plum is changing teams again, and her next stop carries a familiar Aces connection.
The Los Angeles Sparks are reportedly trading the former Las Vegas star to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder. ESPN’s Shams Charania and Kendra Andrews first reported the deal.
The move would send Plum to the team Las Vegas swept in the 2025 WNBA Finals. It also would set up another meeting with her former team when the Aces visit Phoenix for the regular-season finale Sept. 24.
Phoenix adds scoring
Plum is averaging career highs of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists through 12 games this season. She has not played recently because of a left leg injury.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Plum’s scoring average is the highest for a player traded during a WNBA season after appearing in at least 10 games.
Phoenix entered the deal at 11-19 and outside the playoff field. Still, the Mercury have not been eliminated.
Adding Plum signals that Phoenix intends to make a late push. She would give the Mercury another proven scorer and playmaker for the stretch run.
Sparks look ahead
Los Angeles would receive a young guard and two future draft picks for a player whose contract expires after the season.
The Sparks entered the trade at 10-17. Like Phoenix, they remain alive but sit in the lower tier of the standings.
The teams are taking different paths. Phoenix is making an immediate bet on Plum. Los Angeles is adding youth and draft capital for the future.
Another stop after Vegas
Plum helped Las Vegas win consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023.
She later requested a change and joined Los Angeles through the 2025 trade that brought Jewell Loyd to the Aces.
Plum said she wanted a larger role and another opportunity to grow. Her reported move to Phoenix would give her another Western Conference stop and another chance to lead an offense.
Aces stay measured
Las Vegas had not completed a trade as of early Sunday, with the deadline still ahead.
That approach matches Becky Hammon’s comments earlier in the week. She said the WNBA’s hard salary cap makes major deals difficult unless the contracts and roster math align almost perfectly.
“Until it’s in ink, some of these things are just talk,” Hammon said.
The Aces recently added rookies Justine Pissott and Ta’Niya Latson, along with Mai Yamamoto. All three have played limited minutes since joining the team.
Phoenix made the bigger swing by adding Plum. Las Vegas, at least for now, appears more likely to continue with its current core and recent depth additions.
The Aces visit Plum and the Mercury at 7 p.m. PT Sept. 24 at Mortgage Matchup Center.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
